Newton Citizen

COVINGTON -- Students at Georgia Perimeter College Newton will spend next week reflecting on their lives.

GPC Newton's fall 2012 symposium, which runs Monday through Thursday, will explore the theme "My Generation."

In a school week of academic and festive events, the campus's mostly "millennial" students will compare themselves with their elders and ancestors regarding their world and how they look at it.

"It's important for students to study the generations so that they can understand how their culture, concerns and values are similar and different to those of past generations," said symposium chair Jane Hercules, a communications instructor at GPC Newton.

Faculty members and students will discuss various topics including popular music, generational literacy, energy, sustainability, history, black poetry, science fiction, genetics and food. There will be a film screening of "Social Network," student music, poetry performances and a student art show.

All events are free and open to the public.

"We're excited to host the fall symposium here at the Newton campus, and it's a great opportunity for our students to be a part of this fantastic learning experience," Newton Student Government Association President Mela Kissoon-Persaud said. "The theme 'My Generation' is a perfect choice for the Newton campus, as it allows the non-traditional and traditional student to briefly experience each other's genre."

The symposium will kick off at 11:30 a.m. Monday with student presentations called "The Generations: Our Lives and Times." At the student coffee house at 4 p.m. Tuesday, students will hold an open mic event.

An ongoing art show will continue until Wednesday on the second floor of building 1N. It features charcoal, pastels, pencil, paintings and self portraits, among other art. At 5 p.m. Wednesday, the Social Circle Theater will present a variety show performance in the space.

Several other student presentations and special events also are scheduled for the week. The entire schedule is available on the GPC website, www.gpc.edu.